Sumo Salad Explained

Sumo Salad
Type:Subsidiary and franchise system
Location:Sydney
Locations:80+
Industry:Restaurant
Products:Coffee, Salads, soft drinks,
Owner:Get Forked Ltd Pty

Sumo Salad was an Australian salad bar founded in 2003 in Liverpool Street, Sydney, by Luke Baylis and James Miller.

Initially, Baylis and Miller hired friends and family to develop the business, including a trainer and marketer.[1] In its first decade, Sumo Salad grew through franchising to have 100 stores, it also managed to expand internationally, having the total of 9 stores in New Zealand, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil.[2]

From 2013 to 2015, Sumo Salad partnered with Paleo diet advocate Pete Evans.[3]

In October 2015, James Miller, one half of the pair responsible for starting up the Sumo Salad franchise was found dead by his flatmate, Nasser Elkordi in their Elizabeth Bay, Sydney home.[4]

On 1 August 2018, Sumo Salad went into administration. A key reason given for its move was “legacy debts”, thought to relate to crippling rents the chain has been lumbered with at Westfield shopping centres.[5]

On 11 March 2022, the Sumo Group again put itself into administration.. Sumo Salad's core business appears to have failed to find a buyer and been wound up.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 'We were laughed out of the room': How SumoSalad took on fast food and won. https://web.archive.org/web/20160501025119/http://www.startupsmart.com.au/advice/growth/we-were-laughed-out-of-the-room-how-sumo-salad-took-on-fast-food-and-won/. 1 May 2016. Michelle. Hammond. 5 April 2013. Private Media Pty Ltd. StartupSmart.
  2. Web site: Mens Health Staff . How SumoSalad Founder, Luke Baylis Built A $80 Million A Year Business . Australian Mens Health Staff . May 2021 . 16 December 2021.
  3. News: Paleo advocate Pete Evans dumped as Sumo Salad ambassador. Fairfax Media. Marissa. Calligeros. 3 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160208021033/http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/food-news/paleo-advocate-pete-evans-dumped-as-sumo-salad-ambassador-20150403-1mdztn.html. 8 February 2016.
  4. Web site: Sumo Salad co-founder James Miller dead at 38 . 28 October 2015 .
  5. Web site: Brook . Benedict . 1 August 2018 . Sumo Salad's struggles: Healthy eating chain enters administration amid search for a saviour . 2023-06-21 . news.com.au.